The Heretic:

ADR:

Crabbit x2Death KnellGlimmer ImpCask Imps x2Piggybacks

I won the roll off and went first on Incursion. I opt not to deploy the Murder Crows (yay ambushing!) and put each one of their preys on the pair of Sentinel units. My plan is to make a Scenario bid on the left flag and just grind out the game from there.

I choose the Pandemonium and Labyrinth Arcana.

Grymkin Turn 1:

Apparition on the Hollowmen, everyone runs up.

Fury goes on one of the Neigh Slayers units. I lead with the Gorehounds because I intend to charge them in and Sprint behind the Sentinels the next turn - this, combined with the Murder Crows should keep my opponent from committing very hard to the Scenario.

Retribution turn 1:

Everything runs up and Helynna puts Deceleration up. Not a whole lot to say.

Grymkin turn 2:

I Ambush the Crows opposite their prey targets.

I sacrifice the Gorehounds to tie up the Sentinels, but I cannot hit with the second Gorehound until the fourth attack and he's stuck in the front rather than behind.

I blast a couple more off the table with CRA's from the left hand Hollowmen.

I set up as best I can to avoid getting charged the next turn - I intend to use Pandemonium on the right hand side.

Meanwhile, I have the ability to put two units of Furied Neigh Slayers into whatever comes to contest, which should theoretically be enough to level a colossal and a half.

Retribution turn 2:

Sentinels on the left split off to deal with things in the back field. The right ones try to charge but I prevent that with Pandemonium so they mini feat and advance.

My opponent contests the right flag with a Chimera and the middle one with a trio of Sentinels.

The Left Flag only has a couple on it as well. The plan is to clear all three flags, force an impossible slog to take back the left flag and win on Scenario while my Murder Crows hold him down in the back field.

Grymkin turn 3:

I clear the left flag okay by putting two five man CRAs into the Sentinels.

The middle flag has a unit of Neighslayers charge into the Sentinels there, but I miss the last one with two boosted sixes.

The Heretic drops a Wall of Fire, the Second Neighslayer unit gets Furied up and charges the Chimera and the last Sentinel and misses 4 of 5 attacks.

I put a 10 man CRA into the Chimera and barely do anything to it.

I score one point and pass over the turn.

Score: 1 - 0Advantage Grymkin

Retribution turn 3:

Imperatus comes in and clears out Neighslayers.

The Phoenix runs off to the side and Helynna puts an Obliteration into the Hollowmen.

Sentinels move around, and I trigger the Reckoning off the barely remaining unit.

Score: 1 - 0Advantage Grymkin

Grymkin turn 4:

I have a choice with the Reckoning active - do I try and kill Imperatus or go for Scenario?

I opt to Scenario.

Sadly, even with the Reckoning up, I can't kill all the Sentinels. I do take both flags, but at a cost.

The Heretic runs away.

Score: 3 - 0 Advantage Grymkin

Retribution turn 4:

My opponent clears the left flag except for one guy. Helynna charges Longfellow and takes the flag and contests the right side with a pair of Sentinels.

The center flag gets one other model besides Helynna into it and Ret scores a point.

Score: 3 - 1Advantage Grymkin

Grymkin turn 5:

I apparate around the Sentinels and put a nine man CRA into the one contesting model on the middle flag. It double 1s and I no longer have a way to win this game.

I fail to hit or damage both Sentinels with every attack I put into them and pass. My opponent scores again.

Score: 3 - 2Advantage Grymkin

Retribution turn 5:

My opponent gets Imperatus into the flag and I concede.

Post-Game Thoughts:

I had a plan, did my best to execute it and just felt foiled at every turn by my dice.

If my opponent reads this, I'd like to apologize for the extreme levels of crankiness I displayed in the last twenty minutes of the game. It had been a long day of disappointment.

Overall I felt like my pairing was strong and that I had an opportunity to win every game I played. I think Grymkin is a very strong faction and that it can compete on the same scale as the big boys.

I took the night to cool off (big shout out to my meta friends, definitely felt and needed the support), and I've got three more battle reports with three of the other Warlocks from Iron Arena the next day - stay tuned!